Loom thread cutter



March 4, 1958 H. N. THIBAULT 2,825,367

` LOM THREAD CUTTER Filed oct. 2e, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 l INVENTOR. HARRISON N. THIBAULT m7 @M0-@X6 A TTORNE Y March 4, 1958 H, N. 'rl-luau.n rA LOM THREAD CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001'.. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. HARRISON N.TH|BAU|.T

ATTORNEY United States Patent ,LQOMV CUTTER Harrison N. Tllibaultx'I-loptnlal'e;Mass.,- assignor to Draper Corporation,,Hopedale,;Mass., acoi'poration ofrMaine Application Qctober 26,1956, Serial'No. 618,638

t s claims. (AC1. 13a-26s) This invention pertains toimprovernents in thread cutters for looms, 'for 'exampleytemple thread cutters, of the type which function intermittently. Y

It is `a general object A'ofthe'in'ver'ition to cut the period of time during which a' temple thread cutter shall operate to a small fraction of thetotal weaving time of the loom.

A more specific object is that of devising a thread kcutter of the ytype described which shall be pneumatically controlled to permit'it to be actuated only at such times as there are threadsclosely within its range to be cut.

Other objectsfof the invention will lbecome apparent from the -following'more detailed disclosure.

In automatic looins a thread *cutter carried by a temple is provided to'c'ut the outgoing andthe' ingoing ends at the selvage. Of course, thecutting Vfunction is required once after each replenishing'cycle, but while th'atmight involve operating the'cutt'er for afew seconds, in practice, most looms function by actuating .the cutter once for each beat of the lay. This means that the mechanism operates hundreds oftimes forthe few picks during which itis needed with -theattendant Wear, noise and, of course, expense for vrepairs 4and replacements.V

Attempts have been made to device cutters whichishall function at desiredtimes only and also some have been triedV which function one 'pick out, of every ten, for eX- ample.V However,l none` of '.these has been practical enough kto have gone into anything like commercial usage.

According to this invention, a more or less conventional cutter is provided with a means to latch it in an inactive position.` .At or about' `at1theY transfer cycle, and especially for afew picks thereafter, the cutter is unlatched by a mechanism pneumatically actuated. This pneumatic control is timed, preferably by being tied in with the transfer mechanism and the supply of compressed air for it may comefrom any convenient source.

Thefinvention will bedisclosedY in detail by,a-descrip tion of one specific embodiment, thereof yas illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofa temple thread cutter with the inventiona'ppliedthereto.

Fig.. 2 is anelevation of Ythe, mechanism Yof Fig; 1.

Fig. 3 is an 4enlarged section taken at line 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a front'elevation of part of a loom showing the means by which the cutter isrcontrolled.

Fig. 5 is -a sectional view of -a timer.

Fig. 6 is aV planview `showing in detail -the control for varying the time period.

VNow referring to-Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the cutter is mounted uponV a temple having ythe usual bar 10, slide 11, head 12 and a rollf enclosing kpad andcap 13, the bar and clothengaging parts `of which reciprocate slightly when contacted by the lay at beat-up.

The Acutter comprises a movable cutter blade 14 which shears the thread against a xed blade 15. Blade 14 is a part of a-slide'gor bodypart.16-fromrwhich depends a heel 17 by which V,the cutterV is vmovedto the front land .downwardly yas an abutment at the lay strikes this heel. Nofrmally, a spring 18 coiled-about a pinY 19 andatta'ched `by a loop at its'other end to a piniixed inor `integral ,with the heel 17 returns Athe cutter to the full line position, Fig. 2, fafter each cutting movement. The temple "and cutter". thus far-described are not new andfot a full disclosure of the construction and operation thereof,

reference is made :to -United States Patents 1,366,034 and While the cutteras ab-ove described would be operated once each pick of the loom, it is desired to conne lits action to a relativelyfew cutting strokesv at that-,time right after transfer when ,the ingoing ,and outgoing threads are to be cut at A`the selvage. Accordingly, aA means is provided which disables it at all Yother times, this means beingv penumatically controlled .in its entirety.

Alatch arm 21 is connected to the side lof the head 12 at pivot 22 and is formed,l with a catch or latch 23 which is positioned to engage behind pin 29 and to latch-the cutter in an inactive position. A spring 24 is coiled about pivot 22 and presses the arm down into latching engagement.

lA cylinder 25 is threaded or otherwise securedin its head 26, Eig.: 3, and these parts are xed to the side of the temple slide 11 Ior'to some other convenient stationary part by screws 27 and 23. A piston 29 andpiston rod 3i) are slidable in the cylinder `and head respectively and 'are sealed against leakage of air pressure by Q-rings 31 inthe head and 432 on the piston. A spring 33 tends to keep the piston and rod in the position of Figs. 2 and 3. Air under presure Iis admitted to the cylinder through a line 34 connectedat 35 to the head 26. -Airrstenters `a chamber 36 in the head and then drives the piston against the spring 33. A port 37 permits thev air at the atmospheric side to beexpelled or to enter as the piston is actuated.

The rodi) has an end 33 to which is connectedgone end of Ia link 39 the other Iend of which is attached at 4i) to the end of latch arm 21. This latter connection is by a slot 41 in the link 39 so that the arm 21 may swing upwardly to permit the latching function. The link is slightly oiset to take care of the fact that the rod 30 and the latch arm 21 are not in vertical alignment.V

1 It is quite possible to supply air under pressure to the loom from any common source or to compress it at the loom. Thisair may be for the purpose of controlling the cutter only or, more preferably, may be lsupplied for other purposes so that the cutter control is only another useful function served.

By Way of example, air may be conducted from a sourceto a combined timer-valve, Figs. 4, 5 and 6, entering at 4Z and may have its pressure niodiiedV by a reducing valve 43, if desired. This valve and timer are set and the cycle started by connection to some part "of the transfer setting means. -This timer-valve, generally indicated by numeral 44 is 'held in place by a bracket 45 attached 'to some fixed lloom part such as the frame extension 46.

The combined timer and valve, Fig. 5 lin particular, has a body which is'divided into two cylindrically shaped parts 47 and 45. Air under desired pressure enters at 42 to a chamber 49 which is connected by -a port 50 to a second chamber 51m cylinder 47.

l The chamber 49 is closed o from the outlet vturbe 52, .the-function of which is not of concern so far as fthe instant invention is concerned, by a valve 53. This valve seats on a washer 54 and is movable up or down on a stem 55. When lifted, air may flow past it to4 the space 55 .and thence through tube 52. NormallyA air pressurerrnaintains it closed.

lAir chamber -51 may pass to a tube 57 whichconnects at a T 5S to a tube 59 leading ,to a hollow transfer stud for purposes with Vwhich we Iarenot concerned here. This tube S7 attaches to the'timer bodyata point opposite the space 6i) formed about a perforated ,sleeve 61, a part cfa plug 62. These hold aring 63 and rubber or plastic washer 64 up inseale-d Contact with a .shoulder at-the. lower endof chamber 51. Q Thesehave a relatively )'largelopeningso asfto providefor lalvspace Vvabout'atimerrsteni 65 Which'pas'ses up through the plug and has a ange 66 pinned or Aotherwise fixed in airl I tightrrelationship ,to it; At-its top end this stem passes Y Ytlu'oughaV head 67 4which seatsragainst a shoulder *Y ltheY chamber at which'the size ofthe bo'redecrea'sesrtro 'YY-'extend upwardly in a third part 68. A spring `69Y be- Y. adjusted position by a screw 7S. Y

Y tweeuthe head 67 an'djange 66 tends to keep thestemk ina position to maintain the ilang'e'seated Von the Washer 647s()V that therairfinV chamber Slipmay Vnot enter therlower space 60; t Y Y Y Y Y( Head 67 is sealed byO-ringset and 71. Above the head and 'atfthat extreme 'end of Ythe stem a vpiston YVincludes a cup or pump YWasher 72 and is'held in place Y Y i by a screw and washer andV thisyof course will hold air Ypressure as the spring draws Ythe assembly downwardly, Vbutrpermits airto pass when moved in the opposite direction; i 'f Y 'f 1 'Y .Chamber 68 is vented below the piston through an aperture` 73, head 74 is screwed to the top of this Vcylinder with a gasket between and is provided with Y meansV by which air may be permitted to'bleed inslowly; .Y Y hereY that means takes theform of a porous body Yof sintered metal 75Yset in an opening 76'and held in placeV t Yi111' any convenient manner.Y Here a bar 77, shown inV Vplanin Eig. 6, maybe swung to cover the yporous plug 75 toaV greater or'lessez` extent.V This bar is held inrany In'operating this timer-valve uni t, the'actuating im;

`pulse is "taken from the transfer mechanism, more Y Y speciiically, the starter shaft and an Yatm 79j movable therewithg'Fig. 4.] The arm 79 has connected'to'it Va Y link 80 Vwhich extendsupwardly to'attach Vatei to anj t* Yann VSZ'fas'tV on Vone end of'a'shaft 3. This shaft is Y' l VcarriedfirrV suitable bearingsrand has a nger Sfltxed at its opposite eudfand aligned belowY the timer-stem 65 Y and valve stem The ingeris shown in'Vdot-and-dash lines ina Yposition'it may'ftalce when `the timer-valve VVI claim: Y Y 1 Vp Y Y Y Vl.-:ln combination in yaY loom of the type having al freciprocating'V lay, a lay actuated thread cutter, means Yfor latching said thread cutter in an Vinactive position, and Vpneumatic means forreleasiug the cutter for opert ation by the lay.;k

l 2. Incomhination inifartloomof the typehavingla i recipro-catingflay, a threadfcutterhavinga.means engageable by a part Vof the lay "in itsV operation thereby, a

means for latchingsaidr cutter injazi `Vinactive]position,` Y Y and Va pneumatically operated means Vfrorfdisengaging saidY Y times as the cutter is to become latching meansat such operative. Y

Y 3.. lnrcornbinaticnin :a Vloommof theT type "having a reciprocating lay,r a"temp1e, 'a rthread cutter lcarried-by and movable with'rsaidl `temple vand 'havingY a Ymeans V engageable bya part of the lay in its'operation-.thereby,

a `means yfor Vlatching said `cutter in an inactive rp'risition,Y

. and YaYpneumaticallyoperated means for'disengaging .saidY latching meansat'such times as Vthe cutter is to become operative.-` Y

4. In `ctunbination inra loom ofthe type having-.a Y reciprocating'lay, a temple, Va threadcutter carried by and-movable withsaid temple and having ai; means engageablefby a partof the lay'in itsV operation thereby, 'Y

a means for latching said cutter inY an inactive'position;

and a pneumaticallyoperated means comprisingra'rcylindex,` y'a piston in said cylinder'and linkage operable by said piston when pressure is admittedtoy the cylinder for Vdisengaging saidY latchiuglmansA at suchltimesV asythe cutteris to become'operative: j

' Y J5. In combination iin; a vloom joffthe ,typejhaving 'a is actuated. The Vlinlc is adjustable forlength andV thus z therswing of the'iinger may be so controlled as to VYdis'- place the timer Wto a greater or lesseriextent.. It alsoV 'Y opens -the valve; to admit air to thecylin'der 42 and incidentally opens valve 53 also.

In operation, assuming that Y a lnactive position in which thelay in-beating forwardly merely displaces theV heel i7 vslightly and the tinger S4 isV Vout of engagement Ywith the timer and valve stems, whenk YVa replenishing cycle is 'started the armY 79 pushes link 80 upwardlylto raise the Yfinger 84.' This pushes timer stemV '65 upwardly to open valve 66 and admitair to the line Y 57 and thence through tube 341 tof the cylinder'to drive piston 29 and rod 3d' to theV left,`Figs.fl, 2 and 3. This pulls the link 39 toY the dot-and-'dash'position axidrraises Y' latcli'ar'rn 2i to release pin 2d'andthemovablecutter.Y A The cutterrthen'functions ouce'rat each beat of the layY t in theY usual manner.

Y. Orf course7 the filling to Vbe cutat'the Sclvage will after the cutterV is Vlatched in` and movable fwith saidgftemple andV having 'atzmeans Vengageable by a partof'thelay'in-its operationrtherebyfiapin' projecting frontV that means engageableiby a part Y of the lay,l a*latchirlgrleverY pivoted at: saidcutter'and effective on 'said pin for holding the cutter in aninactive e position, and 'a pneumatically. Voperated meansV for;disf engaging said Vlatching means at such times as'theicutter is tobecomeoperative.V Y

fMechanism as definedY in pneumatically operatedY means comprisesa' cylindery-a piston' Vin 'said cylinderfandVV linkage` operable bygsaid Ypiston whenfpressure'is admitted tothe cylinder fordise engaging Ysaid 'latching meansat vsuch times as thejcutter;

Y is to become operative.'

a'few picks, once the transfer isV effected, `come intoV range Y 'Y of the'cut'ter and Yhe severed. j

The amer isset VSoftline it will maintainth valve' es open a short time afterV the ingoing and outgoing threads Y l are cut, but the poro-usplug admits air slowly andeindue time the Vpiston descends Vand the valve is closed.VV @A's Y y iof the invention andthe sciopegof theclaims.

il itV closes the pressure drops in cylinder' 2S and Vspring,V

'33 thenvre'turns all parts tor'arposition such that the Vlatch Vffarm 2 drops'.V At the next forward beat of the lay the pin Y20 moves iunder the latch 23 whereupon the cycle is Y operative and timer means V`responsive tofdisplacementof j t air for controlling `said pneumaticallyoperatedrdiseuf fcompleted. Y, The slot 41 permits the arm 21 to be raised :against tension of spring 24 Vat that time.

While one lembodiment of the invention has been dis- Vvfclosed, .it is to Ybe understoodY that' theV inventivercon- Y cept Vmay becarried out in a numbeifof ways. This inventioizi is, therefore,A notftolbe llimited to the precise Vdetails described, but'is intendedito embrace all varia'- Y YY'tionsa'nd modifications thereof falling within tht-spiritV Y V7'. In Yfcornbin'ation in1a 1oomvfjthe type'ha'virigfafY Y. ir

i reciprocating laygfa" temple; YarthreadY cuttercarried by g.

andmov'able'with said temple and having afmeansV reciprocating lay, aV temple,l a Ythread jcuttercarried by Y and movableV with; saidfterupleY andthavin'g a means@Y Y engageable Vby'Y a `part of therlay injits operationtherebyi Yf a means forrllatching saidcutter'in an inactive position,Y

and apneuma'tically operatedmeans for disengaging said a latching means at sucli times as the-cutter'is torbecomie gaging rmean's.- i

y References Cited le'of Vthis patent;` i 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS nim '5f' wherein, sata' Y Dec'. 18,3956 j f a. 

